The BEST (and Cheapest!) Restaurants in Hoi An

My constant desire to devour new food might be the reason I have an insatiable wanderlust. I am the type of person who thinks about the dishes I am going to eat the night before, and thinks of ‘breakfast’ in terms of ‘the meal 4 hours before I get to eat lunch’.

When I find a destination that allows me to be the foodie I am, but also allows me to not go bankrupt from eating out every meal, I stay awhile. Hence why we’ve decided to stay in Hoi An, Vietnam for 4 months straight. The food in Hoi An is delicious, fresh and best of all… dirt cheap! It's one of the last places on Earth where it's cheaper to eat out than it is to grocery shop and cook for yourself at home.

After living in Hoi An for a little while, I have developed a circuit of my favourite places, visiting them all multiple times a week. I am still leaving a few slots open for exploring new places, but my favs are so good they have me coming back constantly.

Here is my list of the best (and cheapest!) restaurants in Hoi An:

NostaLife

If you are looking for authentic Vietnamese food and you only have a few bucks in your pocket, NostaLife is going to be your new best friend. Hands down, without a doubt, the BEST value in all of Hoi An. I’m talking about large, filling and flavourful dishes for less than you ever thought possible. Plus, it’s family run, which always makes us feel at home. We’re actually starting to feel like permanent fixtures at this restaurant because we eat there so much.

It’s located in the An Hoi district of Hoi An (the island with the night market) and tucked in behind two other (more expensive and less cool) restaurants off the main street. The restaurant is set up around a trendy tiki bar with fresh fruits on display, twinkling string lights above the tables and one of the best soundtracks in town. Great vibe, check!

50,000 VND – $2.15 USD35,000 VND – $1.50 USD

Rosie's Cafe

Can a person overdose on smoothie bowls? Because I might be headed down that road with the sheer amount of them I eat at Rosie’s. I just can’t help myself!

Rosie’s is open for breakfast and lunch and my go-to spot for getting something healthy and packed with vitamins into my body. We visit at least 4 times a week, so Rosie and the girls have gotten to know our order and have it made for us when they see us arrive! Now that’s service!

We’ve come to love the vibe and the work ethic of the staff, but also appreciate the beautiful simplicity of the healthy dishes they create. Rosie’s is amazing and people have caught on. It's commonly full of expats and European tourists during peak times, but you can always ask to share a table. It's a great place to hang out, have a coffee and meet other like minded travellers.

70,000 VND – $3 USD

Nourish Eatery

I’ll tell you a story about how amazing the food at Nourish is. My husband Trevor is a steak and potatoes kind of guy. His ‘go-to’ meals are usually chicken wings, fatty burgers and a good rib eye. The fact that I could get him to put Nourish’s ‘Wauw’ veggie burger in his mouth and say “Yum! This is awesome!”, was a miracle in itself. I still can’t believe I have been able to get him to go back and enjoy vegan food there on 5 different occasions.

In all seriousness, Nourish Eatery is the best place for a delicious, filling and healthy meal in Hoi An. It’s set back into the tranquil rice fields and looks more like a secret garden than a restaurant. The owner Frank is from Holland and has a serious passion for making incredible food that his guests will throughly enjoy. He also sells his incredible butters (tahini, cashew, and peanut) by the jar to take home, which I suggest everyone does!

One of the best parts of Nourish is they will deliver to your hotel or villa. The delivery fee is only 10,000 VND ($0.43) so it's a no brainer! Check out their menu online

50,000 VND – $2.15 USD

Nū Eatery / The Sea Shell

Nu and Sea Shell are two different restaurants, but owned by the same people and share menu items. Nu Eatery is one of the highest rated restaurants in a prime location of town and because of that, can be overflowing with people at peak times. One day we tried to get a table, but since they were full they suggested we try their ’Sea Shell’ location just a few blocks up.

To our surprise Sea Shell has EVERYTHING on the menu that Nu does, but has even more options. Now we usually just head to Sea Shell so we know we’ll always have a seat.The menu is fun, bursting with flavour and has a unique spin on traditional Vietnamese dishes. The smell of their steamed buns literally makes my mouth water every time I walk by.

35,000 VND – $1.50 USD

Fresh Rolls

45,000 VND – $1.94 USD

Nū Eatery Info:→ Get Directions on Google Maps The Sea Shell Info:→ Get Directions on Google Maps•Visit them on FacebookOpen from 12pm to 9pm, Monday to Saturday

Burgers Plus

Never before in my life have I been able to sit down at a restaurant and get a tasty veggie burger with fries and a Diet Coke for under $3. How is this a thing? Well, at Burgers Plus it’s the real deal. For all the days that we’ve felt like we can’t possibly eat another spring roll or Cau Lao, Burgers Plus has become our Western refuge.

It’s a tiny hole in the wall restaurant with jaw dropping prices, friendly family-run service and really good burgers! It's always a risk trying veggie burgers in new places, but this one is right up my alley. It's the perfect spot for some familiar comfort food.

Veggie Burger & Fries

Veggie burger patty made with pumpkin and sweet potato, with onions and tomato

79,000 VND – $3.40 USD

The Noodle House

I’ll start by saying the service at the Noodle House is far from perfect, but the insane value and flavourful dishes keep us coming back anyway.

Cau Lao is a region noodle and pork dish that’s famous in Hoi An and available everywhere you look. However, they certainly look different from place to place. Trevor has tried some Cau Lao that was more like a watery soup with some wilted lettuce and pork bits thrown in. On the flip side, he’s found hearty and savoury versions of Cau Lao at places like The Noodle House who truly take pride in making a heavenly noodle bowl.A rich pork gravy sauce sliding down thick chewy noodles, topped with spicy fresh greens and tender pieces of meat – this is the Cau Lao he needs in his life.

While I don’t eat pork or beef, the Noodle House still has something for me. They make a great Pho, made with chicken pieces as well as a chicken broth, instead of the typical beef version.

Cao Lau

Thick noodles with slices of pork, local greens and crispy croutons and a homemade sauce.

65,000 VND – $2.80 USD

The Noodle House Info:13 Bạch Đằng, Cẩm Châu→ Get Directions on Google Maps •Visit them on FacebookOpen all week from 9:30am to 10:00pm

Banh Mi Phuong

Totally overhyped, but still worth the visit. This place was made famous by Anthony Bourdain eating one of their Vietnamese Banh Mi sandwiches and proclaiming to the camera “this is the best sandwich in the world!”. If Anthony likes it, we knew we would too. We lined up in the only queue you’ll find in tiny Hoi An and waited for our turn to order our Banh Mi.

I got the chicken, while Trevor opted for pork with added cheese. Was it the ‘best sandwich in the world”? Hardly, but I can see why Anthony loved it so much. It’s more of a cultural immersion than anything. The experience came from us enjoying a French baguette stuffed with indescribable meats, flavours and pastes, all while sitting on miniature plastic stools while motorbikes zoomed past us.

It’s just something you need to do at least once. We went about 6 times.

Banh Mi

The chicken, or pork and cheese, Banh Mi sandwich. French bread, pate, meat, and fresh greens.

30,000 VND – $1.29 USD

Pizza Oi

Pizza is always a good idea, especially when it’s made by an Italian chef from Milan. I first discovered Pizza Oi when I was simply walking by. I was distracted from the normal ‘unidentifiable’ South East Asia street smells by sweet spices and melting cheese. My mouth instantly started watering so I ducked into the restaurant to see what was up. I chatted with the owner for a few minutes and discovered he cooks his pizza authentically Italian and he also has mounds of parmigiana cheese I could devour. Sold!

For a quick snack on the go, they sell slices of pizza for 30,000 VND ($1.29 USD) Also, not pictured below because I ate it too fast, is a big bowl of fusilli pasta with homemade pesto.

Smoked Ham & Mushroom Pizza

Italian style, thing crust pizza with ample toppings and parmesan on the side.

150,000 VND – $6.46 USD

Mia Coffee

Hoi An has a great cafe culture, but many places in the ancient town are overpriced and too crowded. Mia Coffee is just a quick 5 minute walk outside the crazy centre of town and has better prices, amazing coffee and a relaxed vibe. It’s actually a favourite hangout among expats and long term visitors because of it’s laid back atmosphere and high quality coffee.

Mia is the kind of place you could bring your laptop to get some work done, a book for some chilled out reading, or to meet up with friends.

40,000 VND – $1.72 USD

Eat Thai

Oh how embarrassing. I’ve been here multiple times, always ordering the same dish, but have never managed to get a picture of it. I think that says something about the taste! The moment the dish hits the table, I am face down on the plate.

The owners are Spanish and Thai and they make a MEAN authentic Pad Thai. Trevor doesn’t eat seafood, so we always ask them to make it with chicken instead and they are more than happy to oblige. We were thinking of spending a few weeks in Thailand this year just for the food, but it seems we can get the taste of Thailand right in Hoi An!

They were formally known as ‘Thai Kitchen' and had a somewhat hidden location. As of Feb 11th 2019, they have changed their name to ‘Eat Thai' and have moved to a busier location.

Pad Thai

I stole a photo from Eat Thai, because as I mentioned above, I can never get one because I eat it too fast! We sub shrimp for chicken and absolutely love this dish!

115,000 VND – $4.95 USD

The Night Market

I mainly go to the night market to indulge my sweet tooth, but let me tell you, it’s a real street foodie wonderland. I’ve seen everything from the normal noodle dishes, right up to full sized frogs on a stick. Anything goes here.

My personal favourite treats are the Nutella drizzled banana pancakes and the freshly made ice cream rolls. Both desserts are about 30,000 VND ($1.29 USD) and are a great evening treat. I had to put a limit on how much I get them because I still want to able to fit into my clothes while living here.

Nutella Pancake

Pancake mixture with smashed bananas, grilled hot in front of you, then cut into pieces and smothered with Nutella.

30,000 VND – $1.29 USD

No added ‘tax and gratuity' on bills

One of the most amazing things about Hoi An is they do not add tax and gratuity to the bill! We came to Vietnam from Bali and there it wasn’t uncommon to see a 10% tax and 10% added gratuity to each cheque. 20% certainly adds up over time, especially with the rising costs of food there.

Coming here, we saw that at almost ALL of the restaurants (with the exception of some overpriced touristy ones), brought the bill with no extra charges built onto it. No hidden surprises. It makes dining out in Hoi An even more affordable than it already is.

That being said, it’s always a good idea to tip when you have great food or service. I am just NOT a big fan of automatic tips being built into cheques for no reason, as that completely takes away what tipping is supposed to be about!

Tourist Trap Restaurants

Like ANY tourist destination on Earth, Hoi An also has its fair share of ‘tourist trap’ restaurants. They are places that have sprouted up in high traffic areas that have designed their menus to be anywhere from 2x’s to 5x’s the price of other establishments. Some people might not even notice, because even at these overpriced places, the cost still might be less than you pay at home. None the less, a trap is what they are. I am not naming any names, but we have tried about half a dozen of these restaurants, just to see if their food or service was living up to the big prices they charge. In each case we found the food to be on par with places that were a fraction of the price. As for service levels, we actually felt the tourist trap restaurants to have worse service than the cheaper options in town.

We are still going to try out a few more and see if any can pass the test and be added to this list. For now, none of them have had good enough food, service or value to mention them in this post.

I love this detailed post! As a Vietnamese I always opted for cao lau, mi Quang and other traditional items every time I visited Hoi An. Never thought there’d be such yummy-looking burgers and pads Thai in this beautiful town. I’ll definitely try dishes from your list next time!